Established in 1996, James Yarosh Associates Fine Art Gallery
is located in the second floor loft space of the former 1917 firehouse
at 45 E. Main Street (Rt.520) in Historic Holmdel Village, NJ 07733
Entrance on the inside corner of building & additional parking lots in the rear.
Open Saturday 12-4pm. Weekday & evenings hours scheduled by appointment
732 993 5278 or 732 993 5ART |
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WHATS NEW |
| A Family Portrait |
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In 2007, at the age of 40 and after a ten-year hiatus as an artist to create James Yarosh Associates Fine Art Gallery , I made the decision to reclaim my artistic commitment to the fine art of painting. I prepared by embarking on a home renovation that allowed for an artist’s studio and by traveling extensively to the world’s greatest museums. There, I viewed masterpieces by artists who inspired me first-hand and I learned of their lives and artistic journeys, which filled my head with study.
With the external work done, I chose to mark time with a current self-portrait to set my direction and mission. For my subjects, I sought portraiture and choose to record the balance of their happiness of the present moment. As I began to paint, I knew I needed to allow vulnerability to feel the sensitivity needed to extend the exploration of self-portrait and artistry — and for this, I turned to the subject of family.
Art is my grounding, constant in life to hold faith. Artists live their lives and have a commitment to following their own muse despite cultural obstacles. They have an unwavering discipline to speak visually and to connect in ways words can never express. With a more mature head to revisit my interest in psychological portraiture, I find appreciation in quietness and subtlety. The show’s portraits are free of background and subplots beyond the subject to share and the artist to render.
Subjects of “ A Family Portrait” include my partner, Barney Cohn; my cat, a former stray, Ilean ; and my parents. Barnet was painted from life exclusively; my parents also sat for me for the first time. I believe now that a certain confidence and time distance was needed to explore the painting of perhaps our most complicated relationship beyond the limits of parental roles. It allowed me to see the lifetime of experiences of the individual sitting across from me — with empathy.
These five seemingly simple paintings represent my life to this point, with my own 18-year relationship with Barnet; they tell the story of my life and give the definition of family in painted form. Continuing in the tradition of artists before me who lovingly painted those dear to them by preserving them as endless portraits that now sail through the ages, I silently tell my loved ones’ stories in a way that resonates and holds the ultimate form of storytelling of humanity and artist’s heart. |
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